While it is true that God’s ways are higher than ours, and we should always submit to His will, He also encourages us to think and act for ourselves. That’s one lesson Jared and his brother learned. For example, the idea of traveling to a new land that was “choice above all the earth” seemed to start in Jared’s mind, and the Lord “had compassion” and promised to grant the request, saying, “Thus I will do unto thee because this long time ye have cried unto me” (see Ether 1:38–43). And when the brother of Jared realized how dark it was inside the barges that would carry them to their promised land, the Lord invited him to suggest a solution, asking a question that we usually ask Him: “What will ye that I should do?” (Ether 2:23). The message seems to be that we shouldn’t expect God to command us in all things. We can share with Him our own thoughts and ideas, and He will listen and give His confirmation or else counsel us otherwise. Sometimes the only thing separating us from the blessings we seek is our own “veil of unbelief,” and if we can “rend that veil” (Ether 4:15), we may be surprised by what the Lord is willing to do for us.
Poem Elder Budge shares at the beginning of his talk. I didn’t share it in the podcast, but I love it so much.
“Sorrow prepares you for joy. It violently sweeps everything out of your house, so that new joy can find space to enter. It shakes the yellow leaves from the bough of your heart, so that fresh, green leaves can grow in their place. It pulls up the rotten roots, so that new roots hidden beneath have room to grow. Whatever sorrow shakes from your heart, far better things will take their place.” (See The Mathnawi of Jalalu’ddin Rumi(1925–40), trans. Reynold A. Nicholson, vol. 5, 132.)
I was really touched, multiple times, but this podcast. I was just set apart as a RS president and have super overwhelmed with everything else going on in my life. Thank you for sharing your personal stories and reminding me to think again about how I #hearhim
About a year ago I came across your podcast. I listened to one then but I a diligent listener to podcasts so haven’t listened to any since. This morning I got a notification that this weeks podcast was available (my notifications are turned off on almost all of my apps. I have not received a notification in the last year at all from this app) I know that it was not by chance that I received this notification as an answer to my prayers. I have been going through some personal struggles and questioning my faith. On Saturday a I lost all hope and told my husband I was done with the church. I am pretty beaten down right now and do not know how much more adversity I can handle in my life. A small amount hope returned as I listened to you share about your personal experiences. I listened to this while I was working but plan on listening again so I can take notes as a reminder of how I can find hope again and peace again during this time of adversity.
I’ve been listening to you since the beginning when my mom told me how great you are (and she loves your mom, her neighbor, so much)! I don’t think I’ve missed a single episode since…and this week I was laughing every time you said, “It’s SO GOOD!” because I realized I’ve been saying that a lot lately in just the dramatic way you say it. So funny…and I won’t be mad if I slowly become more like you ☺️
I am a new listener this year, and am soooo sorry I didn’t know about following you before . You are light- hearted and yet so inspiring and positive. Your testimony is really positive and beautiful. Thanks for all your hard planning so that I can be uplifted as I read the assigned scripture sections every week. Then I can feel the ideas you give me every day as I study.
Thank you so much. You are making a difference in my world.
I love your podcasts and listen weekly. I appreciated you saying this week that you didn’t want to bring politics into the message, however , I shuddered and cringed and it really bothered me when you said “we have a new president “. No, we do not. It has not been officially called due to the allegations of fraud and cheating. It is not over.
Please see my reply to Norma above. I’m sorry that you didn’t like that part of the podcast. I will try to limit my political statements in the future.
Melanie, each week I turned to you for gospel insights and inspiration. As of today, I will no longer be a listener. You said during this week’s podcast that you would not talk politics. But you did. You could not help yourself. You cited negative and nonsensical opinions about our President from members of our faith, which contrary to what you said, Pres. Trump is still our Pres. and will remain our leader until Jan. 20. Some of your listeners can infer from the absurd ‘opinions’ you referenced, that anyone who supports Pres. Trump is a fool or deranged. But, you didn’t stop there. Now that we have a “new Pres.,” the rain will stop falling down from the sky, and we will all be singing cumbaya in love and unity. Since you chose to talk politics, please understand that for a great deal of Americans, the election results is one that is most devastating. You are a very ‘privileged’ woman who despite salme set backs in your life, you have never lived or known real vicissitudes. To many who have lived under a socialist/communist regime, the election results is one that represents going back in the direction of exactly what we fled from. If you don’t want to have these discussions because you are ignorant about what is really going on in our country, stay away from talking politics and stick to your strengths. When I listen to your Come Follow Me podcast, I want to be drawn closer to the Savior. I don’t need to be pricked or hurt by foolish comments such as yours and those of your listeners. We do not need nor want to hear politics when we are simply trying to tune out the noise and chaos going on around us. Weather you admit it or not, your political banter on this weeks podcast is sending a message of where you, and your listeners should stand politically. I realize this is your podcast and you are free to say whatever you want, but I still felt the need to tell you that this kind of commentary is wrong, wrong, wrong.
A few people were upset with what I said this week in the podcast about the election. When I get criticism, I always listen carefully and try to understand. I apologize when I feel I’ve misstepped, and try to right any wrongs. I have considered comments and a have considered a few times taking what I said out, because someone was hurt by it. I don’t ever want to hurt anyone’s feelings. I am not that kind of person. And after 100 episodes if you haven’t come to understand what type of person I am then I am sorry. I am not mean, divisive person.
I want you to know I pray very hard before, during and after what I say. I have stopped watching questionable shows, limit what I read and say and try to live close to the spirit. It’s tough. But I want to make sure I don’t say things that are doctrinally wrong. I feel a huge weight of responsibility on my shoulders to help lead others to Christ.
But in the end, I am just a person giving my two cents about the scriptures and topics in the Come Follow Me lessons each week. This is not sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is chalk-full of my personal beliefs and opinions. There are many other Come Follow Me podcasts out there. I hope that as you leave this one, you find one of those that makes you happy. I really do. Don’t leave your personal, weekly study because of something I said. That would be terrible.
But as I have listened to it again and again, I stand by what I said.
Your reply is an example of where my words were misquoted and misconstrued. I’m sorry that my words hurt you. It makes me so sad that had to flee from a “socialist/communist regime.” You are right. I don’t know how that feels.
But to imply that simply because Biden won (or didn’t – according to you), we are now going to be living under a communist regime simply is a stretch that is unfair to make. It simply isn’t true.
So you can call me ignorant and say I know nothing about politics. Under the free speech guaranteed by our free nation’s constitution you have that right. You also have the right to no longer listen to my podcast. Because your actions are not 100% controlled by a communist regime, you have a right to say and listen to whatever you want.
I just took the time out of my day to transcribe the entirety of my statement that I made on the podcast. I will include it below. The places where you misspoke are as follows:
1. “…your listeners can infer from the absurd ‘opinions’ you referenced, that anyone who supports Pres. Trump is a fool or deranged.”
Please re-read the transcript. I said it was foolish to say that Trump was the Lord’s anointed or to compare him to Captain Moroni. I stand by that. I’m sorry you took it personally and thought I was calling you a fool. That is not what I said, nor what I meant. I can distance people from what they say. If someone say something I feel is foolish, that does not make them or anyone else who thinks like them a fool. Again, that is not what I said, nor what I think.
2. ”Now that we have a “new Pres.,” the rain will stop falling down from the sky, and we will all be singing cumbaya in love and unity.”
This is something I didn’t say at all. Not even close. But I’m guessing you are referring to where I said, “We have a new president. That does’t mean that the world is going to burn down.” I stand by this as well. We have lived under Democratic Presidents and we have lived under Republican Presidents. We can do both.
3. “Weather you admit it or not, your political banter on this weeks podcast is sending a message of where you, and your listeners should stand politically”
False. You have no idea where I OR my listeners stand politically. I have never stated my affiliation, nor have I endorsed any candidate. This is not a podcast just for democrats or just for republicans. That has no bearing to me. I was not telling anyone to pick any side. I never have. I simply didn’t say that at all.
I am including the transcript below. If you still have problems with what I said, I’m sorry. I really am. But this time, as easy as it would be to cave and take the statement down as to not offend people who think differently than me, I won’t recant. I apologize if the way I said “foolishness” was taken wrong or was hurtful. Again, I don’t ever want to meaningful hurt someone.
This week on November 20th at 11:00 am our prophet is going to speak to us. I am excited to hear his words. HE is the only leader I know is anointed to lead us and I’m excited to hear his counsel. I hope we all listen.
The Following is the direct transcription of my controversial statements in Episode 49. The reason the whole thing came about was because I was talking about this scripture. The transcript begins here.
“Ether 2:12 Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ”
Now I never talk politics here, and I never want to because I know it’s so divisive and I don’t want anyone to stop listening to the podcast because of something I say about politics – cuz we all need to hear about Jesus and we can’t go storming off. But, I need to say something because we aren’t the judges and we aren’t the ones who decide when our nation is no longer promised or that we are about to be swept off and that the wicked are ruling and the constitution hanging by a thread… etc etc.
We have to be careful that we aren’t making those judgments. Because somebody sent me a video this week talking about how Trump was the Lord’s anointed and my mom said that somebody in Utah had a speech and compared him to Captain Moroni. And I just want to put up my hands real quick and say, “Everyone stop losing your mind and stop saying such foolishness.”
The only person that the Lord has anointed to lead us and guide us in these Latter-days is President Nelson. And he said to us at conference, very plainly and very clearly, along with the other apostles that we need to let Christ prevail, that we need to let God and Jesus Christ lead our lives and that we needed to avoid contention.
So let’s go forward. We have a new president. That doesn’t mean that the world is going to burn down. Let’s just try to go forward and applaud the things that we have in common with our fellowmen. And if our new leader says things that are good, let’s be happy about it.
The end.”
Please don’t argue with me anymore about this. I have listened to your opinions and have respectfully replied. I have a lot on my plate right now and do not want to talk about this any further. Some other Come Follow me podcasts are:
The Savior Said by Lexie Austin, Meridian Magazine’s Podcast by the Proctors, and Come Follow Me, a Podcast by Erin Robison. There are many, many others. These are just a few that I have heard. Good luck to you and I hope you can find peace in the coming months no matter how things turn out politically in this country.
Mellanie Thank you! This was an amazing week! Loved that you tackled it all! Thank you! My friend and her friend Blake Gillette wrote and released a new song this week and I think you will LOVE it!!!!
https://youtu.be/bvNj68-DtVE
Beautiful!!! I wish I could share youtube videos on Instagram! I will put make a special Sunday post on here with it! So cool!!
Thanks so much for your podcasts! They are truly wonderful! When you’ve talked about writing a book, I felt like I should do the same. I’m not planning on publishing but I think it will be something my kids will appreciate. Writing and spelling are not my thing. This is really hard for me to do, but I know Heavenly Father will help me! I know the things that have the most value in life are always hard.
Shine on!
That’s why there is spell-check! I’m the worst speller ever! Just do it.
I have loved your podcast. I have been trying to catch up, and I am now just listening to this episode. Wow, your comments about Trump came out of nowhere, and it really hit me the wrong way. I tried to continue listening to the episode, but I could not concentrate on what you were saying after that. So many strong emotions tied to the election, even months after. Thank you for doing the podcast. It has been a really big blessing so maybe that’s why it hurt my feelings so bad. I don’t know.
I’m sorry that offended you. As it did upset a few people, I went back and listened and re-listened to see if I should take it down. And I feel bad for those that got mad about it, but I stand by what I said. The only person anointed by God to lead us right now is President Nelson. And I still feel that way.
I’m preparing for my mission and to go to the temple, and this podcast just brings so much light and the spirit of the Lord instantly into my life. This week’s podcast really touched my heart as I prayed and pondered what I thought I needed to do to prepare for the mission and the temple. I’m so grateful for your words, they’ve really changed my mindset, and that will help me throughout my entire life. I am so excited to partner with the Lord as I ask Him to change me in certain ways, and as He reaches out His finger and individually touches my heart to help each of my weaknesses become strengths, in and through His power and His atonement for me. Thank you for your words! I can’t wait for next week 🙂